What wine are you drinking? Winter/Spring 2010

Time to revive this sucker...

Today, finished what was left of something I had never had before (no not Laid's) it was a Montenegrin red wine, made from the Vranac grape indeginous to the Balkans. Nice dry red, 2005, well under $15. It's called Plantaze, from the Lake Skadar region, wherever that is.

Then, of course, I had to open something else. So I did. It is a souvenir from a trip up to Old Mission Peninsula, north of Traverse City, Michigan. Chateau Chantal, Proprietor’s Reserve (CCPR?), 2007 Pinot Gris.

WOW. Buttery, dry, golden yellow, perfect age, great vintage. I usually don't drink Alsatian/German-style whites in the winter, but this wine is full-bodied enough to hold its own against March 1.

Re: What wine are you drinking? Winter/Spring 2010

We had a bottle of Shiloh Road open this evening. not bad, but you're paying for Napa Valley.

My favorite cost/quality wine from the last few weeks was a bottle of Unruly Red, which I found to be delicious with whatever it was I was grilling that night (steak? mahi-mahi? I'm not sure). I'd recommend it to anyone who wants an easy-drinkin' red.

Originally Posted by SMOWK

I like to save up the charred bits in the bottom of the unfiltered stuff. When I have enough, I pour milk on it and eat it.

Re: What wine are you drinking? Winter/Spring 2010

Originally Posted by Jono

I love the Traverse City area and the wineries...the Chantal location is gorgeous and the wines are good. Michigan produces some very good quality wine.

Indeed it does! I assume you've been up there, Jono. Old Mission is a great little getaway spot, as is Leelanau Pennisula next door. People think of Michigan as The Great White North, but Traverse City is at the same latitude as Bordeaux and the lakes create favorable microclimates all over the place.

A little closer to you is the Lake Michigan Shore AVA around Berrien County. The wines, generally aren't as good as farther north, but many of them hold their own. Domaine Berrien (specializes in reds), Tabor Hill, and St. Julian are the best in that area.

ANYWAY...last night I attended a wine tasting above a deli in downtown Detroit. A friend of mine (a waitress at the pub I frequent) and her husband are in the process of opening a winebar/shop. They're specializing in affordable European wines.

I tried a lot of great wines last night but the best bargain was probably a Portugese wine called Versatil, from the Alentejano region. It was a 2005 and jammy, and semi-sweet and very fun to drink.

I have been drinking a lot of S American Malbec - none stand way out above the others....most have been very enjoyable. The last bottle was "Cupcake" Malbec out of Argentina. I also pick up various Italian, Aussie, CA reds and a few white. For a desertish white I really liked Baciami - Albana Di Romagna grapes. The back label states "Roman Princess Galla Placida tasted the wine in 382 A.D., she declared that it was so smooth it "should be drunk in gold."